Submarine mine.



G. B. R1LEY,C. C. SHERMAN & H. 0.- MOCK.

SUBMARINE MINE.

APPLICATION FILED MNIYI 1913.

d m a v m2 f m a w all i no

RILEY, CARLTON COLLINGWODD SHERMAN, AND HERBERT OCTAVIUS MOCK, F LONDON, ENGLAND.

SUBMARINE MINE.

messes.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 18, 1.919.

Application filed anuary 17, 1918. Serial No. 212,373.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, GERARD BROOK RILEY, commander B. N CARLTON COLL- INGWOOD SHERMAN, commander R. N., and Hnnnnur Oo'rAvIUs Moon, lieutenant-commander R. N. V. 1%., subjects of the King of England, residing in London, England,

have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Submarine Mines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to moored submarine mines of the kind in which a plummet weight is used in conjunction with the sinker to etl ect release of the winding drum of the mooring cable, and to maintain it in such. condition until the plummet reaches the bottom, on which the drum becomes locked against rotation. the length of the plummet chain giving the depth setting of the mine in the well known way.

The present invention consists of a device which normally, positively retains the plummet or plummet chain in such position that it can not function to release the winding drum, but which will operate to release the plummet to function in its approved manner at a predetermined depth or an appreciable time after launching the mine gear.

In a convenient term of the device according to this invention, the plummet held up by a pivoted catch, or the like, which normally retains the plummet chain against paying out, and is connected to or controlled by a lydrostatic release device or to a suitable delay mechanism, which respectively operates when the mine gear sinks to a predetermined depth, or after a predetermined time after launching, to allbw the catch to take up such a position as to release the plummet or plummet chain from the restraint originally placed upon it. The plummet weight can then fall freely to unlock the winding drum in the sinker.

The accompanying drawings illustrate devices embodying this invention.

Figures 1 and 2 are elevations of two hydrostatically operated devices.

Figs. 3 and e are elevation and part section of a device comprising a delay action mechanism, Fig. 5 an elevation at right angles to Fig. 3 of a detail.

Referring now to Fig. 1, the plummet weight 1 is suspended from a pivoted hook or arm 2 which is adapted to be engaged and restrained from fallin by a pivoted catch 3, the movement of w llCh toward the releasing position is controlled by a spindle 4 of a hydrostat 5. The catch 3 may be provided with a slot 6, in which the pivot 7 of the catch engages, the ivot 7 being carried by a support 8 slidalily mounted in a bracket 9. By this means the pressure transmitted to the spindle of the hydrostat by the catch 3 can be adjusted thereby allowing of a'certain amount of latitude in fixing the parts to the sinker. It will be obvious that by selecting the leverage of the arms ,of the catch 3,the pressure transmitted to the spindle in a direction transverse to its longitudinal axis may be made as small as is practicable. The whole of the device may be arranged as a unit on a support adapted to be secured to the sinker.

On the mine gear being launched, the plummet and sinker together with the mine, fall toward the bottom, and on the hydrostat 5 reaching its set depth, the spindle 4 is withdrawn from the catch 3, and the weight of the plummet draws the hook 2 away from. the catch to let the plummet fall freely to fulfil its normal functions in the well known way.

In the arrangement shown in Fig. 2, the plummet 1 is suspended from a hook 'or arm 2' which is kept in place by a pawl" or notched lever 3, controlled by the spindle 4 of the hydrostat 5. ihe hook 2 is preferably formed with a portion 2 cotiperating with the tooth or notch 3 of the member By suitably designing the hook 2, and pawl lever 3 the pressure transmitted to the spindle 4 of the hydrostat from the pawl lever 3 may be made very small. "It is obvious that the plummet could be suspended directly from the hydrostat spindle but V this method is not considered satisfactory for practical application.

In the arrangement shown in Figs. 8, 4, and 5, a delay action device 9 is employed, which may be of any known form, and set in operation either by hand when the mine gear is on the point of bein launched .or automatically by a suitable trlp on the mine rails, as the sinker is about to leave the rails.

In the example of the delay action shown in Fig. 4, the plummet is connected to a. bifurcated member, hollow spindle or the like 10, which is connected by a ball release or equivalent device 11 to a member 12 which ismoved outward by the delay mech-' anism. The members 10 and12 are mounted within a fixed guide member 13. The moving part 12 of the delay action device may be prevented from moving downward owing to the weight of the plummet or otherwise, before the moment of launching the mine gear, by a catch 14, which is withdrawn out of action by a pivoted trip or lever 15 which may be operated by a suitable part on the mine rails on ing launched or otherwise as desired. On the mine gear being launched, and the delay mechanism set in operation in the selected manner, the member 12 moves outwardly carrying with it the member 10; and as soon as the balls of the ball release device 11- can move to disconnect the members 10 and 12, such as when they are in a lower position than the lower end of the guide 13, the member 10 falls away from the mem-' ber 12, and so allows theplummet to fall unlocking the winding drum.

The total buoyancy of mine and sinker can be arranged in relation to time of release, in order that release can take place after a predetermined time such as can be obtained by providing the sinker with inlet hole or holes to allow the water to enter more or less gradually to. govern the rate of sinking of the mine and sinker and thus vary the moment of release of the plummet. Having now particularly described and ascertained thenature of our said invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we claim is 1. A plummet release retarder comprising the combination with the plummet, of a releasable support for said plummet, securing means for said support and hydrostatic means adapted to release said securing means to trip said support and thereby release said plummet.

2. A lummet release retarder comprising the com ination with the plummet, of a re leasable pivoted member adapted to retain the plummet in inoperative position, an adjustable lever having a portion formed to engage said pivoted member and. hydrostatic means including a spindle, said spindlebeing adapted to engage said lever or to be withdrawn from said engagement the gear bethereof thereby to retain the plummet in inoperat ve position or to release the same respectively.

3. An improvement in submarine mines of the type including an anchor anda plummet, comprising releasable means for supporting said plummet, and hydrostatic means adapted to trip said releasable means.

I -l. A plummet release retarder comprising the combination with the plummet, of a releasable member adapted to retain the plum met in inoperative position, a lever'having a portion thereof formed to engage said pivoted member and hydrostatic means including a spindle, said spindle being adapted to engage said lever or to be withdrawn from said engagement thereby to retain the plum.- met in inoperative position or to release the same respectively.

5. A plummet release retarder comprising the combination with the plummet of a releasable member adapted to'retain the plummet in inoperative position, a lever having a portion thereof formed to engage said re leasable member, and hydrostatic means for controlling said lever and thereby to retain the plummet 1n inoperative position or to release the same respectively.

6. A plummet release retarder'comprising the combination with the plummet of a releasable member adapted to retain the plummet in inoperative position, an adjustable lever having a portion thereof formed to engage said releasable member, and hydrostatic means for controlling said lever and thereby to retain the plummet in inoperative position or to release the same respectively. 7. A plummet release retarder comprising the combination with the plummet of a releasablemember adapted to retain the plummet in inoperative positioman adjustable lever having a portion thereof'formed to engage said releasable member and hydrostatic means including a spindle, said spindle being adapted to engage be withdrawn from said engagement thereby to retain the plummet in inoperative po sition or to releasevthe same respectively.

Signed at London, England, this 30th day of November, 1917.

GERARD BROOK RILEY. I CARLTON COLLINGWOOD SHERMAN. HERBERT OCTAVIUS lVlOCK.

said lever or to 

